Time for a change...

As you can see I felt it was time to mix things up a bit. I love playing with my blog background but I haven't had time to design anything myself, so thanks to The Cutest Blog on the Block I found this one and am very happy with it. Enjoy!

Rest time...?

I don't know what my little dd is thinking, but I would love to know. She will play for a little bit, then crawl into the dog's corner and lay down on his bed with him, then go play for a bit, then back to lay down...it cracks me up. It also suprises me because just last night she was nipped when she was headed for his food. This is the only time he has done this (scared the shit out of me, happened really fast) and she goes after his food all the time, she loves to eat it....it makes me shudder to even think about it, so gross. Yes I'm keeping an eagle eye on her and him today. She hasn't tried to get his food today, maybe she learned from the nip....interesting, very interesting. Well here is the picts, I thought they were too cute so I had to share.

Healthy Living

One week ago I decided to take my life back. Now from past experiences I know that I don't do well with diets. Been there, done that too many times. This time I have decided to change my eating by being aware of everything that enters my mouth. Sparkpeople.com has a fabulous nutrition tracker to help me monitor just how much I'm eating. They can even help you set up an eating plan...all for free.

For me, I choose to eat anything I want, I just have to be accountable for it and know what it does to me. I'm finding this thought process is helping me to make better choices over all. I look at something and its calories and fat and such and make a decision based on if I think it is worth it or not. I'm not depriving myself of anything if I truly want it, but I am having much smaller portion sizes and filling my days with many more veggies and fruit and such. I have learned that I was probably eating atleast 4000-5000 calories and way too much fat before (gotta love depression and all that comes with it). Now I'm eating between 1750-2300 calories and I'm balancing my carbs, fat and protein better.

Just 10 months ago at my baby's blessing, I was down to 282...my lowest in a long time. Then post partum depression struck and my regular depression joined in to stay. (I miss that hormone high *sigh*) Last Monday I weighed in at 314 which is heavier than before I got pregnant. Today my good choices this past week have paid off...I weighed in at 308. I know I have a very long way to go, and I still need to work on motivation for exercising, but I'm feeling I have made the right choice for me.

My Long Term goals are:
1) become my friend's running partner by the end of this year
2) Be my best self: strong and healthy and active with my family

My Short Term goals are:
1) Make good eating choices
2) Work up to 30 minutes of exercise a day, 5 days a week
3) Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night
4) Drink 5 to 8 20 ounce bottles of water a day

I will share my journey in hopes that I can motivate someone else and some of you can motivate me as well.

My new color...a few days late.

By nature, I'm a bit of a punk at heart. As a trained cosmetologist, I love to get crazy with my hair, it is such an instant gratification thing. This is the only time my hubby has said anything about it being extreme.

I'm thinking he isn't that thrilled with it, but he knows I will change it again in another few months anyway.

DD turns 14 today!

About 8 months ago I was invited to a vinyl saying party. I was going to try not to buy anything but then I saw the saying above and it got me thinking about my teenage daughter. Every teen seems to have confidence issues of some sort and girls especially need positive reinforcement. She has always been a princess around here, and always will be. So I got the saying made, I re-designed the one in their catalog for more my taste, and then later found the crown through another company. The saying is on the inside of her door so she will see it everyday before she leaves her room and when she wakes up. The crown is above her mirror. I just applied them to her wall and door and love it, I hope she does too. Most of all I hope it reminds her of how awesome and wonderful she really is.

A Baby Year in Review

1 yr old...*sigh*... Where has this year gone?

Yep she is one...and it blows my mind. Where has this past year gone? I've enjoyed as much of it as I could, but it still passed way too fast. She has grown up and changed so much. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving that she is older and more fun to play with, she is much more entertaining now then one year ago. It's just that I know she is the last, the last chance to enjoy all the firsts of childhood. I'm a little sad for time gone, yet thrilled to see what she will bring next into our lives.

Fabulous Giveaway for Scrap paper Addicts

You must check out this giveaway @ Lainey's Altered Ego. She is giving away a fun pack of goodies for those of us who love to play with paper and embellies. Good luck on wining it, but I hope I do.

Visiting with Santa

We had a ward Christmas party tonight (can you say free meal? though not as good as past years), and of course after all the spiritual stuff (which was good for my soul at least) Santa came to visit. I like that they do this because then I can get picts with Santa without having to take my kids to the dreaded mall.

First, baby dd did fabulous! Most other kids around her age were crying, throwing fits, or just not willing to even get close. I think it helped that she was a little bit tired. Youngest ds...well I'm not so sure he believes anymore, which is kind of sad, but he was more than willing to hop on, tell Santa he wanted a laptop and receive his candy bag (which turned out to be only peanuts-they ran out of the good stuff).

I wasn't too shocked to discover my teens wanted in on the action. Middle ds played the part and asked for something (I can't remember), but older dd (back row on right) and her friends just wanted the photo op. I believe there is a part of them that just isn't willing to totally give up on Santa yet, and I'm good with that.

Then came the funny hubbys. This is my hubby on the right and his best bud on the left.

When these two get together, there is usually some kind of silly nonsense going down.

They both acted like little boys...telling Santa everything they wanted for Christmas.

Too bad they asked for such big boy toys, I know Santa can't afford those! LOL

We, the wives can't help it, we love these goofballs.